HDMI supports higher resolutions than VGA. The HDMI should look a little "crisper", but it's really down to personal preference. I'm assuming your monitor has an HDMI port? Try them both and see which you prefer, although I would recommend the HDMI.

HDMI is OBJECTIVELY better than VGA. It carries a digital signal, where VGA carries an analog signal. VGA only made sense when we had analog CRT monitors. Hooking up a modern monitor using VGA limits color depth, limits frame rate, and disables freesync.

I run two identical monitors at work side by side, one off HDMI, the other off VGA. I would have to look at the back to see which one is which. It's not exactly like going from VHS to Bluray..... so it is not "OBJECTIVELY" better than VGA, it's marginally better........

"objectively - in a way that is not influenced by personal feelings "(Miriam-webster)

the fact you think they don't look that different is PERSONAL PERCEPTION. OBJECTIVITY shows that one is a digital - to analog - to digital path that loses features, while the other is a 100% digital path that maintains them.

Ok if you just need a basic desktop computer to do office tasks, and want to get your feet wet in building a pc, get a parts list going like this one, and watch some PC builds on youtube. Linustechtips and gamersnexus have some great coverage on these topics.

I'm not really sure how to build a new PC cheaper than this. That being said, it will actually perform really well for basic tasks, and has a nice upgrade path in case you want to do something more with it in the future.

If you just want to learn how a PC comes apart and goes back together, just go on craigslist and buy the cheapest desktop computers with a core 2 duo or newer CPU (like 2009 or later, nothing other than revision and sockets have physically changed in constructing a standard desktop PC since around then in all honesty)

AMD has excellent warranty support, at least in the USA. I've had them do an advance-replacement RMA where they sent me a new CPU in a kit to send the old one back. They're trying to build a brand of enthusiasts.

I'd bet if you went back to the retailer they'd let you return it or exchange it for credit, not a new chip.

But don't cripple Ryzen with 2400Mhz RAM. The B450 board is guaranteed to work out of the box, don't buy a more expensive older board that might need a bios update using an older chip before it will boot with your CPU.

This build budgets in RAM, and includes the cheapest freesync monitor out there so if the little dude wants to game (lan party?) it shouldn't be totally ass even on the iGPU. Also good for if you ever want to get a RX570 (or whatever midrange AMD GPU exists in 2019 or beyond) and turn this into a nice gaming setup.

EDIT whoop forgot SSD, Added a 240GB one because 120 is tight after living in it for a bit, especially the way kids manage files.

Happy to help! just realized you said last year of school, so probably not a kid. lmfao@little dude sorry /u/cowfos' sibling

I traded the case and board to mATX mostly because arbitrary preference, but also it was the cheapest b450 board with a full compliment of RAM slots and brand pedigree. I think you can buy an ASROCK ATX full size board for the same price, though.

The total build will be smaller, but the performance is the same. There aren't that many things to put in a PCIe slot these days, (dual GPU is dead) that board still has m.2, 4 SATA, 4 DIMM slots, an x16 slot, and 2 x4 slots. With a dual width GPU, you'd still have an open x4 slot for a wifi card or whatever.

You might need to go in and mess with settings but usually MSI boards have pretty good BIOS as far as RAM detection goes, and the 2000 series have a better ram controller than the 1000 series ryzen chips so hitting 3000 should be easy if not automatic.

For productivity, 2700X makes more sense because 8c16t (also comes with legit cooler in box), in premiere the RX580 is significantly faster than the 1060, and in gaming they're about the same. I'd use 3000Mhz RAM, especially if you're going with the Ryzen system.

If you're on a budget build, I'd go with a RX 580 instead of the 1060, it has freesync which means things will run smoother/without tearing. You can't get that on the 1060, only G-Sync, which is only found on much more expensive monitors.

By making the switch to AMD you get the same 6 cores 12 threads, and about the same punch from your graphics card, but free up budget for double the (faster MHz too) RAM, and storage to actually put those games. And save $200 in the process.

Derpintosh (hackintosh) - i3 sandy bridge trash pick build in an HP case I found on the side of the road

PowerMac G5 - Running linux as a torrent seedbox in the basement, also useful as a home heating unit

portables

2013 Retina Macbook Pro 15" to be pried from my cold, dead, hands. The last good notebook design apple ever made. 15" quad core ultrabook that I got from apple for $1600. never again.

lenovo x230 16GB 480GB SSD +2TB HDD to be pried from my cold, dead, thermonuclear bomb surviving hands. This linux beater is my pride and joy and has been serving as my daily driver since I picked it up off ebay earlier this year for $220. If you're a PC guy and don't have a thinkpad to dick around with, WRUD

Lenovo thinkpad twist garbage tbh

Macbook Pro 2009 my previous mac. Somehow, this 10 year old (fairly useless) piece of shit would sell with 4GB and its stock 250GB HDD for $300, an insult to anyone looking for a used computer

For gaming, I'd pick your rig hands down. But for productivity, including premiere, your CPU is NOT overkill. With your budget, you could even do a lot better than anything intel offers on the consumer platform.